13th Vigil of Theophany: Isaiah 49:8-15      Epistle: James 1:19-27    
Gospel: St. Mark 9:10-16

Self Deception: St. James 1:19-27, especially vs. 25: "But he who looks
into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a
forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in
what he does."  Upon what should we focus so as to assess ourselves
honestly, to see our lives truthfully, without self-deception?  The
Apostle teaches us to look "into the perfect law of liberty" (vs. 25),
into our Lord Jesus Christ, for He is the true, perfect, and unblemished
exemplar of what truly is human.  Therefore, from His Person, as we
continue looking at ourselves, we shall see ourselves with no
distortion, inflation, or flattery.  He neither enlarges our moral and
spiritual height nor diminishes it, nor does He gloss over any of the
desires of our hearts.  To speak musically, we can say He is that
constant, pure note against which the slightest tonal variation, either
sharp or flat, sets up an immediate and repugnant discord.

    Jesus Christ, alone, is the true spiritual mirror for mankind and
the authentic measure for every man and woman of every race and tongue. 
Being Himself pure and undistorted, He accurately reflects all our
filthiness and overflowing wickedness (vs. 21), as well as our potential
for "pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father" (vs. 27). 
The Elder Joseph the Hesychast states how it is that the Lord is able to
mirror every element of our lives to us so well: "We know that once
someone has tasted wine, he can tell if they give him vinegar instead." 
The Lord Jesus is the wine; to know Him is to see both the poor and the
potential within ourselves.

    Christ our God manifests how slow we are to hear (vs. 19).  When
asked why He spoke so often in parables, Jesus said, "...whoever does
not have, even what he has will be taken away from him.  Therefore, I
speak to them in parables, because seeing they do not see and hearing
they do not hear, nor do they understand" (Mt. 13:12,13).  Still, He
opens our ears that we may be swift to hear: "God renders judgment, and
He will render it; He will come and save us.  Then shall the eyes of the
blind be opened, and the ears of the deaf shall hear" (Is. 35:4,5 LXX).

    Too often, foolish as we are, we are swift to give way to wrath
rather than to offer a kind or healing word (Jas. 1:19).  Our wrath
invariably "does not produce the righteousness of God" (vs. 20).  As
Solomon wisely said, "A stone is heavy, and sand cumbersome; but a
fool's wrath is heavier than both" (Prov. 27:3 LXX ).  Yet, again, it is
Jesus Christ our Savior Who turns us from wrath.  Remember, as ready as
His disciples were to destroy a community of Samaritans who would not
receive Christ, yet Jesus rebuked them and explained that "the Son of
Man did not come to destroy men's lives but to save them" (Lk. 9:56).

    Who is it that implants His life-giving word in our hearts and
enables us to receive His gift and spirit of meekness (Jas. 1:21)?  Is
it not the Lamb of God Who Himself "was led as a sheep to the slaughter,
and as a lamb before the shearer" (Is. 53:7 LXX)?  He reflects to us the
beauty of a meek and quiet spirit before violence.  Yes, Christ Jesus
exemplifies His own beatitude for us: "Blessed are the meek," and
thereby He "shall inherit the earth" (Mt. 5:5).

    It is Jesus our Lord Who has blessed us to care for the widow and
orphan (27), rather than to exploit or ignore any of the poor or
defenseless: "Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of
the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me" (Mt. 25:40).

    The point is that we must not cease looking steadily "into the
perfect law of liberty," our Lord Jesus Christ, and not be forgetful
hearers but doers of the work that He sets before us (Jas. 1:25 ); for
only He can keep us unspotted from the world and undeceived in our
hearts (vs. 26).

    Illumine our hearts, O Master Who loveth mankind, with the pure
light of Thy divine knowledge; and implant in us also the fear of Thy
blessed commandments!


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